The Skyview girls basketball team started the 37th Annual Valdez Elks Basketball Tournament with a 45-24 victory over Nome.

The Panthers advance to the semifinals of the tournament today at 4 p.m. against Hutchison. Hutchison notched a victory over Barrow on Thursday.

Hayley Ramsell paced the Panthers with 16 points, while Jacy Rouse had 10 points and Sam Reynolds added nine.

The Panthers led by 22-10 at halftime, then blew open the game with a 15-4 run in the third quarter for a 39-14 score.

In other girls action at the tournament, the Seward girls toppled Kotzebue 29-25. The game was close throughout.

The Seahawks face the Cordova-Valdez winner at 7 p.m. in the semifinals.

In the boys tournament, the Skyview boys lost 69-40 to Barrow. The Panthers face the Cordova-Valdez loser in the fourth-place bracket today at 11:30 a.m.

The Nome boys beat Seward. Seward plays the Hutchison-Kotzebue loser at 8:30 a.m.

Kenai Central hoops loses a pair in Sitka

The Kenai Central girls and boys basketball teams got off to slow starts and lost on the road to Mt. Edgecumbe in nonconference action in Sitka on Thursday night.

The Kenai girls trailed 17-5 after the first period. The Kards cut the gap to 29-20 after three periods, but could never come all the way back in a 36-26 loss.

The Kenai boys also got off to a slow start in a 65-49 loss.

Nanwalek boys spend week in Kodiak

The Nanwalek boys scored three victories in a trip to Kodiak this week.

Monday, the Eagles topped Kodiak ESS JV 75-19. Tuesday, Nanwalek beat Kodiak’s C team 56-36. Wednesday, Nanwalek notched an 86-51 victory over Kodiak ESS.

John Romanoff poured in 39 points in the Wednesday victory, while Michael Anahonak had 20 and Xavier Romanoff chipped in with 19.

Ninilchik opens up with split in Tok tournament

The Ninilchik girls and boys basketball teams opened up play in the Tok tournament Thursday.

The Ninilchik boys lost to Fort Yukon 67-39. Austin White paced the Wolverines with 18 points.

The Ninilchik girls scored a 53-27 victory over Fort Yukon. Jessica Rogers poured in 20 points for the Wolverines, while Jordan Finney added 19. Also for Ninilchik, Krista Sinclair, Melissa Ehlers and Mikayla Clark had four points, while Alanna Goins had two.